Chery considers building vehicles in Canada using idle plants or partners: Report

Chery is now looking at building vehicles in Canada, only days after the Chinese automaker shifted its Canadian sales launch to early next year.

Speaking with Bloomberg at the company’s Wuhu, China headquarters, executive vice president Guibing Zhang said Chery is weighing a few options, including using idle capacity at plants that already exist or teaming up with partners.

“Even without the American market, Canada is a market that is worth having a factory for manufacturing,” said Zhang. “We are looking for the suitable opportunity and communicating on the possible formats.”

According to the report, Chery is looking at idle capacity and talking with Canadian investors interested in Chinese carmakers, although Zhang didn’t name any companies.

Zhang also said fellow Chery vice president Charlie Zhang has been talking often with Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, who sat down with Chery, BYD and Geely representatives while visiting China in June.

“If we can find some good ways to merge with partners, not only just from investments from Chery but from different parties, and if we can get the manufacturing going — I think that is something that the Canadian government would welcome,” said Zhang.

If it goes ahead, the report says Chery could become the first Chinese automaker with a manufacturing presence in Canada.

Idle plants have been a recurring topic this year, with BYD, Geely and Chery reportedly considering Ontario’s CAMI plant and Stellantis looking at importing China-built Jeep EVs while its Brampton plant sits idle.

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